Door check and closer.



W. BARDSLEY.

DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29. 1916.

3 We gf@ 2 31 Patented Dec. 18,1912

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- ATTORNEY,

W. BARDSLEY.

DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED Amze. 191s.

Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

' 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

IIIIIIIIIII/l IIII UNITED- STATES PATENT onmong WIL IAM rARnsLnY, osKnAminmivEw JERSEY.

7 To allwhom it may concern;

noon CHECK AND'CLOSEB.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BARDsLnY, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Kearney, in the county of Hudson'and "State of New Jersey, have invented certain new 1 and useful Improvements in- Door embracing a spring for closing the door,

jointed lever arms at one end connected therewith and at the other end to an abutment, and means for checking the action of the spring during the closing movement of the door. Ordinarily these door checksand closers have the spring portion applied to the door and the outer end of the lever arms to the lintel over the door or the spring to therigid door'frame and the outer end of the lever arms to the door, as occasion may 1 require. During the opening of the door, the sprlng is placed under an increased ten- S1011, and when the door is released to close,

the spring automatically. closes the same. Usually the spring is inclosed in a casing havingconnected with it a checkingcylinder containing a valved piston and a checking liquid, the piston being connectedwith is and actuated from' a spindle extending through the spring. It'has been found desirable also to provide means by which at the closingpoint of the door, the spring may act with a slightly increased force so as tov latch the door, without creating any undue slamming of the door. I My invention comprises a casing containing a closingspring,

associated lever arms connected therewith and at one end mounted on a spindle which extends through the, spring and means for checking the action of the spring during the closing of the door. more particularly in'the means for checking the action of the spring during the closing of the door and one purpose of the invention isnto dispense with the customary liquid checking cylinder and its parts and provide a mechanical friction check asa substitute therefor. The checking means of my invention comprise a friction band connected with the main lever armand engaging the exterior of the spring inclosing casing, together with accessory features whereby the door may be opened. Withoutthe application .5

:cient and desirable.

. wise is not of unusual formation.

mg 12 1s of CYhHClIlCiLl outline and has a Specification of Letters latent. pat t 'p 13 19173 Application filed April 29, 1916. seria1'no.'94,s22.

ofundue energy and be promptly. closed undera restraintrendering the operation effibraces .features of detail which will be understood from the description hereinafter presented.

Checks and Closers,of which the following ,1

' is a specification. The inventionpertainsmore particularly to door checks and closers of theJcha'rac-terl Referring to the accompanying drawings,

I Figure 1 is a top view of a combined door closer and check constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, .the same being shown as. apphedto a door and door The invention alsom- Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the V same taken on the dotted line 2-2 of Fig. '1;

I Fig. 3 is a detached top view of the-main casing for the spring, 'with'the'lever arms and checking means detached therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the easing forthe spring, taken on the dotted line H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a portion of the checking mechanism,-,taken onthe dotted line 55 ofFig. l, and

Fig. 6, is. a detached sectional view through a portion of the device,jtaken on the dotted line 6'6 of Fig. 3," Fig. 6 showing more particularly the shuntor cain by.

which the checking action is partly released at the closing point of the doorfor the purpose ofpermitting the spring to effectually close; and latch the door. 1

In thedrawings, 10 designates the door, 1

11 the lintel above the same, .12 the drum or spring casing containing the spr-ing;13, and

14,15, respectively, the lever arms which are "pivotally connected together at their outer ends, the lever lrtbeing at its inner end I mounted on the upper end of a vertical spin d'le'16 extending centrally of the easingll, My invention resides bottom 18 which may be integral with securingbracket arms 12) adapted to be fastened to the door 10. in the customary manner. The bottom 18 of the casing is formed with a seat 20Ifor the lower. end of th spi dle- 6,

as shown in Fig. 2. The casing 12 is also provided with a cap 21 having a central tubular opening formed by a sleeve 22 and within the sleeve 22 is mounted a sleeve which is provided within the chamber of the casing 12 with a laterally extending arm 24 which is recessed out, as at 25, in its outer end toform a hook 26 and an auxiliary arm or finger 27, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. lVithin the sleeve 23 is mounted the spindle 16, said spindle being free to rotate or tightly held, as may be preferred, said spindle 16 not being an actuating spindle in the special 7 form of the invention illustrated. The bottom 18 of the casing 12 is formed with lugs 28 (Fig. 4) between which the lower hooked end of the spring 13 is caught, and the upper hooked end-of the'spring 13 is caught upon thehook 26. The'arm 24 is an actuating arm for winding up or increasing the tension of the spring 13 during the opening of the door and controlling the action of the spring during the closing of the door. The

sleeve 23 rotates within thesleeve 22 during the opening and closing movements of the door, and said sleeve 23 extends above the body of the cap 21 and at oneside of its upper end is flattened, as at 29, and upon this end of the sleeve 23 is placed a toothed wheel 30, whose bore is flattened to engage the flattened side 29 of the sleeve 23, whereby said wheel becomes keyed upon said sleeve and when rotated imparts its motion to the sleeve 23.

The spindle 16 extends upwardly above the wheel 30 and receives upon its upper end the inner end of the lever arm 14 and above said end a washer 31 and nut 32, the said end of the lever arm 14 being close against the wheel 30 and the washer and nut serving to retain said lever arm in position. The sleeve 23 is provided at its lower portion with a washer 33 and a cross-pin 34, which pin is extended through a hole in the spindle 16 and serves as a support for the sleeve.

Pivotally connected with the lever arm 14 is a double-ended dog 35 which is of customary form and purpose and one point of which engages the wheel 30 when the mechanism is arranged for a right hand door and the other point of which is placed in engagement with said wheel when the mechanism is arranged for a left hand door. I illustrate the wheel 30 as having notches or teeth entirely around its periphery,but it is well known in this art that only a few of'the notches are ordinarily made use of, and hence the wheel 30 may have as many of the notches as may be deemed desirable. 'The dog 35 keys the lever arm 14 to the wheel 30, and it has already been explained that the wheel 30 is keyed to the sleeve 23 whose arm 24 engages the spring 13, and hence it will beobvious that when the lever arm is moved during the opening of 'the' doorit end of the spring 13, and when the mechanism is to be arranged for a left hand door, the dog 35 will be swung around so that its other point will engage the wheel 30, and under such condition the finger 27 willbe the actuating member to engage the upper end of the spring 13.

The present invention pertains more particularlyto the means provided for checking the action ofthe spring 13 during the closing movement of the door, and this mechanism comprises, among other features, a brake band 36 preferably of metal and containing a lining ofleather or the like 137 and which band is secured at its ends to cast shoess3-7 pivotally connected with the ends of a two armed lever 38, one arm 39 of which is longer than the. other arm 40.

The lever 38 may be said to be a double ended rocking lever, rocking in one direction during the opening of the door and in the other direction during the closing of the door. The lever 38 is pivotally mounted on one end of a-rod 41, said lever contain ing an opening .42 (Fig. 5) to receive the end of said rod and a rivet 43 being employed to pivotally connect said lever and rod. The brake band 36 extends around and engages the drum or casing 12, as shown in Fig. 1, and the ends of the band extend thence to the shoes 37 carried by the lever 38. The rod 41 extends through apertures in arms 44 depending from the lever 14 and at its outer end said rod 41 is internally threaded to receive a screw 45 which extends through an arm 46 depending from the lever arm 14. The screw 45 is provided with a head 47 at'the outer side of the arm 46 and said screw is provided as a means for adjusting the rod41 toward'and from the casing 12, this bclng forthe purposeof drawing the lever 38 outwardly or adjusting it inwardly so that the relation of the brake the position shown in Fig. 1 by full lines to that indicated by dotted lines, the longer armnf-t-helever 38 moves inwardly toward and the shorter arm of said lever moves out- -wardly=from the-drum or-casing 12with the resultthat the band 36is loosened with respect to itsengagement with the drum or casing and the door 10 is opened-in opposition to theforce of the spring 13 but without any material resistancefromthe band 36. During the closing of'the door the longer arm of the lever 38 moves outwardly from and the short arm of said lever inwardly toward the drum or cylinder12, and

the result of this isthat the longer arm of the lever acts to draw the band 36 with great firmness against the drum or casing 12, said drum and band then servmgto'check the closing action of the door, while still perexert against the drum during the closing action of the door. 1 r

It is desirable that while checking the closing action of the door, the door should, within a short distance; say six inches, from its fully closed position, be somewhat released from the checking medium in order that the spring 13 maybe enabled to firmlv close and latch thedoor, and to this end T provide the cap 21 with a shunt or cam plate 48 which projects laterally from the casing and is formed with a slotted arm 49 which extends through a recess 50 cut in the edge of the casing 12 andreceives within its slot a lug 51'formed on the cap. 21 and is there secured by a screw 52; The shunt or cam plate 48 is adjustable radially by-means of its slotted arm and the screw 52' and is prevented from having any rocking motion horizontally by reason of the walls of the recess 50 and the presence of thelug 51.

-Th'e shunt or cam plate 4:8 only comes into use during the closing action of the door, since during the openingaction of the door the short arm .of the lever 38 turns outwardly andthe cylinder or casing 12carries the shunt or cam plate 48 to some'considerable distance away from said short arm of the lever 38, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. After the door has been opened and then released to close, the band 36 during the movement of the lever arm 14 while the door is closing, is tightened upon the cylinder or casing 12 and said cylinder or casing 12 turning within the band 36 finally, near the closing 7 point of ;the

door, causes the shunt or cam plate'48 to ride against the roller 53 carried by the short arm 40 of the lever 38 and forces said arm outwardly and consequently turns the longer arm of the lever 38 inwardly or toward the drum or casing 12 and this has the result'of relaxing the tension of the band 36 on the drum or casing 12s0 that at this time the spring 13 may act with efficient force to compel thecomplete closing and latchin of the door.

During the opening of but during the closing of the door, said band acts by engaging the drum or cylinder 12 to retard or check the movement of the door. Near the closing point ofthe door, the cam plate or "shunt48 acting against the" lever '38 relaxes the tension of the band 36 ,on the drum or casing 12, and hence at this time the spring 13 is'under less restraint and may readily close and latch the door. The amount of pressurethe band may exert at the closingpoint of the door, maybe regulated' byadjusting the shunt or, cam plate 48radially. An outward adjustment of the shunt or cam plate 48 results in inv r the door therefore the brake band 36 performs no special duty,

'creased loosening of 'the band 36 on the cylinder o'rv drum 12, and hencerless .fric

tion or resistance is created, while when the shunt or cam plate is adjusted inwardly, the short arm of the lever is permitted to have [a closer relation with the drum or cylinder 12 and the result of this is that'the friction of the band 36011 the drum or casing 12 is increased. I therefore regulate the friction" the band shall-exert at the closing point of the door by the adjustment of the shunt or cam plate 18. The shunt or plate 48 is not on the true arc of a circle,-but has a small are at its middle portion'and then curves inwardly on its end portions on a different arc. The fact that the shunt or plate 4:8 is

of cam shape also permits me'to regulate the period at which thel'quick closingaction of the door shall take place, this quick closing action of the door not taking place until the plate 18 engages the roller 53 and forces the short arm of the lever 38 out wardly. I

The construction illustrated is shown'as iio arranged for on a right hand door. The

same mechanism may be employed for a left hand door, and when it' is desired to arrange the mechanism for a left hand door, I

- loosen one of the screws, say that numbered 54, fastening one eud'of the 'band 36,"and

turn theband upside down, the rod-ll per- 7 mitting this, and then refasten the band by the screw54, this placing the short arm of the lever 38 at the opposite side of the lever 14 to that illustrated in Fig. 1. I also take the plate or shunt 4,8 from its position shown in Fig. 1 and place it at the opposite side of the cap 21 at the recess 55 provided for it, and'I swing the dog 35 around so that its idle point shown in Fig. 1 is brought into engagement with the wheel 30. The changes just mentioned are'all that are required for adapting the'mechanism from its condition for a right hand-doorto a condition suitable for a lefthand door. In order to avoid adjustment 1 will preferably provide two of the shunt or cam plates 48, one for the recess 50 or for the position shown in Fig. 1, and the other for'the recess 55, so that a person desiring to change the mechanism from a right to a left hand door or from a left to a right hand door might not have to make any change so far as the shunt or cam plate is concerned. I preferably provide the short arm of the lever 38 with a roller 53 adapted to the position of the shunt or cam plate 4:8 for a right hand door and also with a corresponding roller 56 to engage the shunt or cam plate when the brake band is turned upside down for adaptation to a left hand door. When the mechanism is specially constructed for either a right hand door or for a left hand door and not intended to have its parts trans posed, only one cam plate or shunt will be made use of and only one roller will be carried by the short arm of the lever 38.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A door closer comprising a cylindrical casing containing a door closing spring, and pivotally connected lever arms, one of which is operatively connected with said spring,

combined with checking mechanism com prising a brake band engaging said casing and lever arms connected to the ends of said band and to said one lever arm and adapted on the opening and closing of the door to exert a differential binding of the band on said casing, relaxing said band on the opening of the door and tightening the same on said casing duringthe closing of the door.

2. A door closer comprising a cylindrical asing containing a door closing spring, and pivotally connected lever arms, one of which is operatively connected with said spring, combined with checking mechanism comprising a brake band engaging said casing, lever'arms connected to the ends of said band and to said one lever arm and adapted on the opening and closing of the door to exert a differential binding of the band on said casing, relaxing said band on the opening of the door and tightening the same on said casing during the closing of the door, and means for relaxing said band at the closing point of the door so that the spring may effectively close and latch the door.

3. A door closer comprising a cylindrical casing containing a door closing spring, and pivotally connected lever arms, one of which is operatively connected with said spring, combined with checking mechanism comprising a brake band engaging said casing,

and a two-armed lever connected to the ends of said band and pivotallymounted on said one lever arm and adapted on the opening and closing of the door to exert a difi'erena two-armed lever connected to the ends of said band and pivotally mounted on said one lever arm and adapted on the opening and closing of the door to exert a diii'erential binding of the band on said casing, relaxing said band on the opening of the door and tightening the same on said casing during the closing of the door, and a plate carried by said casing for engaging one arm of said two-armed lever at the closing point oi the door for forcing the other end of the lever to relax said band, so that the spring may effectively close and latch the door.

5. A door closer comprising a cylindrical casing containing a door closing spring, and pivoted lever arms, one of which is opera tively connected with said spring, combined with. checking mechanism comprising a brake band engaging said casing, a twoarmed lever COHllGCfcCl to the ends of said band and pivotally mounted on said one lever arm and adapted on the opening and closing of the door to exert a differential binding of the band on said casing, relaxing said. band on the opening of the door and tightening the same on the casing during the closing of the door, and means for adjusting said two-armed lever and band with relation to said casing.

6. A door closer comprising a cylindrical casing containing a door closing spring, and pivotally connected lever arms, one of which is operatively connected with said spring, combined with checking mechanism comprisinga brake band engaging said casing, atwo-armed lever connected to the ends of said band and pivotally mounted on said one lever arm and adapted on the opening and closing of the door to exert a differential binding of the band on said casing, re

laxing said band on the opening of the door and tightening the same on said casing during the closing of the door, a roller carried by one arm of said two-armed lever and a plate mounted on said casing for engaging said roller at the closing point of the door foriorcing the other arm of the twoarmed lever to relax said band, so that the spring may effectively close and latch the door.

7. A door closer comprising a cylindrical casing containing a door closing spring, and pivotally connected lever arms, one of which is operatively connected with said spring, combined with checking mechanism comprising a brake band engaging said casing and a tworarmedlever connected to the ends of said band and pivotally mounted on said one lever arm and adapted on the opening and closing of the door to exert a differential binding of the band on sa1d casing, re-

laxing said band on the opening of the door and tightening the same on said casing during the closing of the door, and a shunt plate adjustably mounted on said casing for engagmg one arm of said two-armed lever at the closing point of the door forforcmg the other end of the lever to relax said band,

so that the spring may eifectively close and latch the door.

,8. A door having self-closing means, combined with checking mechanism connected to said door and its frame comprising a cylindrical casing, pivotally connected lever arms one of which is pivotally mounted on said casing, a brake band engaging said casing and a pivotally mounted two-armed lever connected at its ends with the ends of said band and one of said arms of said lever ,bined with checking mechanism connected tosaid door and its frame comprising a cylindrical casing, pivotally connected lever arms one of which is pivotally mounted on said casing, a brake band engaging sa1d caslng and a pivotally mounted two-armed lever connected at its ends with the ends of,

said band andone of said arms of said lever being longer than the other, and said lever being pivotally mounted on said lever arm mounted on said casing and carried thereby,

whereby said band is caused to exert a differential binding on said casing, the band being relaxed on the opening of the door and tightened on said casing during the closmg of the door, and means for relaxing 7 said band at the closing point of the door so that the door-closing means may effectively close and latch the door.

' 10. A door having self-closing means, combined with checking mechanism connected to said door and itsframe comprising a cylindrical casing, pivotally connected lever arms one of which is pivotally mounted on said casing, a brake band engaging said casing and a pivotally mounted two-armed lever connected at its ends with the ends of said band and one of said arms of said lever be ng longer than the other, and said lever belng pivotally mounted on said lever -arm mounted on said casing and carried Copies of this patent may be obtained for thereby, whereby said band is caused to ex ert a differential binding on saidcasing, the band being relaxed on the opening of the door and tightened on said casing during the closing of the door, and means carried by said lever arm mounted on the casing for adjusting the relation of said two-armed lever and said band to said casing.

11. A door having. self-closing means, combined with checking, mechanism connected to said door and its frame comprising a cylindrical casing, pivotally connected lever arms one of which is pivotally mounted on said casing, a brake band engaging said casing and apivotally mounted two-armed lever connected at its ends withthe ends of said band and one of said arms of said lever being longer than the other, and said lever being pivotally mounted on said lever arm mounted on said casing and carriedthereby,

whereby said band is caused to exert a dif ferential binding on said casing, the band being'relaxed on the opening of the door and tlghtened on sa1d casing. durlng the closmg of the door, and means carried by said lever arm mounted on the casing for ad-' justing the relation of said two-armed lever and sa1d band to sa1d casing comprising a rod slidably mounted in arms depending from said lever arm and connected with said two-armed lever and an adjusting screw for efiecting the movement of said rod;

12. A door having 7 self-closing means, combined With checking mechanism connected to said door and its frame comprise ing a cylindrical casing, pivotally connected lever arms one of which is ,pivotally mounted on said casing, a brake band engaging said casing and a pivotally mounted two-armed lever connected at its ends'with the ends of said band and one of said arms of said lever being longer than the other, and said lever being pivotally mounted on said lever arm mounted on said casing and carried thereby,

whereby said band is caused to exert'a differential binding on said casing, the band being relaxed on the opening of the door and tightened on said casing during the closing of the door, and a shunt plate-mounted on said casing forengaging the shorter arm of said two-armed leverat the closing point of the doorfor forcing the other arm of said lever to relax said band, so that the door-closing means may effectively close and latch the door. 7 t

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 27th day of April, A. D. 1916.

WVILLIAM BARDSLEY.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR MARION,

CHAS C. GILL.

five cents each, 'by addressing the Commissioner of Batents, Washington, D. 03', 

